[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6170393,"mediaKeyId","5397872-8e852622c1a1bbd89b10445df77d5706","parentId",5397872,"title","Harpers Ferry council forms committees, assigns check signer and names representatives to planning bodies","audioSeconds",646,"startMs",1609000,"endMs",2255000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5397872-8e852622c1a1bbd89b10445df77d5706&start=1609&end=2255","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5397872-8e852622c1a1bbd89b10445df77d5706/thumbnail_1609000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6170393/Harpers-Ferry/Jefferson-County/West-Virginia/Harpers-Ferry-council-forms-committees-assigns-check-signer-and-names-representatives-to-planning-bodies","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6170393-31a256c69422dc52ef471b1d3e5eb9c8/orig.mp4?Expires=1775086644&Signature=ZFqBJh-XBLD~9MbgPD0OmXPrxKcRC7ufQPYl3xPXF90exdM85b4WW1x73wyKQ~jJoz5ebqHjM2nUnwXH8U4npDk6E7Yw-0rOwPyT3W5HxEeQrGbMuMDo~HUlLovLFDfAmqRTD9BcqMEX3cT9aqz0cqWzpDBLYkGoOF4qCL6ACql5hqaPU-qrfupulJVuc4Pj6CPXcO416G6pXK1eCSsuh-Juuzkia-WP4obyaHfZ4JCau22RvLKN3GVgSUubWKT6TuroMB8vu9SsLv7FTrgXk2FpSXu0ALdXfj5Q7dsqyhYYjgnH8rydahOhXWp6DfsLZBJPoYNmYTLV0ZQHn0Co0A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of Harpers Ferry, WV","date","2025-07-15T14:28:03Z","article","The Harpers Ferry Town Council on July 14 completed several organizational items: it approved standing committees and charters, appointed councilors and residents to advisory bodies, and designated a council member authorized to sign town checks.

Council approved the committee recommendations for the Ordinance Review Committee, Internal Operations Committee and Budget & Finance Committee; the vote to accept those committee recommendations passed 6-0. Mayor Vaughn circulated recommended committee assignments based on members’ skills and workload; council agreed to trial assignments for six months and to revisit them as needed.

Council unanimously approved a motion assigning Councilor Christian Petriconis as an official check endorser for town payments. The mayor noted guidelines and parameters to help any signing councilor understand what they are approving.

Appointments approved by council included:
- Council representative to the parking committee: Councilor Christian Petriconis (vacated resident seat to be advertised). (Motion carried 6-0.)
- Town council representative to the Planning Commission: Councilor Jesse (motion carried 6-0). The mayor’s designee to the planning commission, Paul Mayhew, was reappointed (6-0).
- Tree Commission appointments: planning commission representative Zach Morris and citizen Rebecca Wolfe were appointed (roll calls passed 6-0 and 6-0 respectively).
- Board of Zoning Appeals: Eddie Love was appointed (vote carried 5-0; one abstention recorded where a councilor said they did not have the application in front of them).

Council also recommended that Chris Craig be Harpers Ferry’s nominated Jefferson County representative to the Hagerstown Eastern Panhandle Metropolitan Planning Organization; the motion to recommend Craig passed 6-0 and staff were asked to prepare a biography for MPO submission.

Why it matters: These appointments and assignments set the town’s representation on planning and advisory bodies, determine who can sign financial instruments and populate committees that shepherd zoning, budget and ordinance work.

Next steps: Staff will advertise resident vacancies, finalize committee charters, and forward the MPO nomination materials.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2025 0609 Regular Town Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","At its July 14 meeting Harpers Ferry council approved standing committee charters, assigned a councilor to sign town checks, made multiple committee appointments and recommended a representative to the regional MPO.","taxTitle","Harpers Ferry, Jefferson County, West Virginia","taxId",52371,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6170398,"Council adopts new town logo concept, approves extra funding to finish design and rollout",5008,4594000,9602000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5397872-8e852622c1a1bbd89b10445df77d5706&start=4594&end=9602","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5397872-8e852622c1a1bbd89b10445df77d5706/thumbnail_4594000.jpg","/articles/6170398/Harpers-Ferry/Jefferson-County/West-Virginia/Council-adopts-new-town-logo-concept-approves-extra-funding-to-finish-design-and-rollout","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6170398-266793509d8c83d1e4f8741669f870d4/orig.mp4?Expires=1775086644&Signature=cFqlBo2gcQkn8pUc~xVQ6YJDlfER6pvWNAJAsULE437lCGAwisPQC7ZrXZh4ybRn0wbXZktwyf7f6JiEugAok7q03pLNfAJwrQRRwFQDt~BM9CaMmQklMNAv6G4YCnSLsqbbtcXuY35aR-f0W4CIWLoBSyE8sae0IZlKiC8h7t30ZnCjOikXBG9D0ubgYQHFq3FO1teZ4cDiHYnredIMgLuxjVJ~6q~T5xyCjRFBEzRE1WE5N227E8lNTAdi3l8z6~UQ4R81kPR81Im6MQ7DIose1PvLzCRVVtdrr~2WiSfwIuDYQPi0RCcAs7xur0qn9S5-5Toa3XeLETNJG5mHHw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Harpers Ferry Town Council selected a new official town logo and authorized additional design spending at its July 14 meeting after months of review and public outreach.

Council adopted the design described as Wicked Designs concept 3b—a brighter color palette and simplified mark—and directed the designer to finalize the logo and deliver a polished, scalable file that includes the phrase \"Est. 1763.\" The vote on the backup motion to adopt concept 3b passed 5-1. Council earlier debated an alternative (a fort/John Brown–focused concept), several color palettes and concerns about legibility at small sizes.

Council also approved a motion to increase the authorized design spending by $1,500—bringing the project cap to $2,500—to finish the logo, produce related materials such as letterhead and small-scale versions, and remove the design bottleneck that has delayed the town’s planned website refresh. The motion to increase the budget passed on a recorded vote 5-1.

Mayor Vaughn and councilors emphasized the importance of a clear, reproducible mark and discussed balancing historic references (including John Brown’s Fort) with the town’s natural and recreational identity. Council instructed staff to finalize files with the designer and indicated the website contractor would resume work once the logo and color palette are delivered.

Why it matters: The logo is the town’s official visual identifier and had been holding up a website update and other branding tasks. Council sought a design that reproduces at small sizes, works in black-and-white and reflects Harpers Ferry’s history and geography.

Implementation: Staff will ask the designer to deliver final vector files, small-scale variations and a color palette and will resume website development once those assets are available.","After months of review, Harpers Ferry council selected a new official logo concept and approved up to $2,500 for design completion and related items to allow a stalled website redesign to proceed.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6170403,"Harpers Ferry converts stormwater task force into five-member stormwater committee",419,2282000,2701000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5397872-8e852622c1a1bbd89b10445df77d5706&start=2282&end=2701","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5397872-8e852622c1a1bbd89b10445df77d5706/thumbnail_2282000.jpg","/articles/6170403/Harpers-Ferry/Jefferson-County/West-Virginia/Harpers-Ferry-converts-stormwater-task-force-into-five-member-stormwater-committee","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6170403-e22c05db75cb2653ccd5c7443e73b88c/orig.mp4?Expires=1775086644&Signature=PiblEhfgb8Rl9Gkt~w0zbmGVkiqv6ayfQtutyCQR-hUOqi8VbX8cfEMIOuf6gMLU7RlmOSlAF7cLxamxEBYdhsw2LQ-v3g741BuZ9Kr6rJjxwNUZ2sSG86tE0lqDWA3TCmg3exfzwO1pCjKgGIj0k8nB~QrtHhgVGc-n~GRZQB4TeM8PQApYmCFzXJXsYPdjOAaobLLeB4vk~7Xasl1tBTpiZLocF8ETQcUHgHtg7ctQ7ON5qOUXKFPODjzC1mkGyFCttaXu~zPqaLk-lQzC7BuZkyKkKMJ-nWdJPSGe~tHYNuv3I7mwPCbmRTqxShK8cVk8kpRy6lci~ur22kuOIA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Harpers Ferry Town Council voted July 14 to convert its ad-hoc stormwater task force into a formal stormwater committee and expand membership from three to five voting members to handle anticipated grant-driven work and planning.

Councilor Storm, who presented the proposal, explained the task force began in 2021 after Region 9 appointed a new stormwater specialist and produced a green infrastructure plan. The task force, which included the mayor or mayoral designee, a town council representative and a planning commission representative, recommended formalizing the body and expanding membership to two at-large Harpers Ferry residents, with the town finance officer serving as a nonvoting ex officio member.

Councilors discussed potential burdens on volunteers and the need to avoid overloading officials who serve on multiple committees. Storm said membership could include the mayor’s designee rather than the mayor personally, and noted the committee would create a charter and coordinate with Bolivar, the National Park Service and other partners on projects and grant applications. The motion to reconstitute the committee as proposed passed unanimously, 6-0.

Why it matters: Councilors said the committee will prepare and manage grant-funded projects, help produce a capital improvement plan and coordinate infrastructure work so the town does not repeat disruptive excavations. The committee is intended to be the central body for stormwater planning as infrastructure funding becomes available.

Next steps: The mayor or the mayor’s designee and the planning commission representative will serve initially; council directed staff to announce vacancies for the two at-large seats and to prepare a charter for council review.","Council reconstituted an ad-hoc stormwater task force as a formal five-member stormwater committee to pursue grant opportunities and manage stormwater planning and projects.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6170408,"Council authorizes WDA payments, approves change order and shifts cell-tower revenue to water fund",326,3654000,3980000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5397872-8e852622c1a1bbd89b10445df77d5706&start=3654&end=3980","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5397872-8e852622c1a1bbd89b10445df77d5706/thumbnail_3654000.jpg","/articles/6170408/Harpers-Ferry/Jefferson-County/West-Virginia/Council-authorizes-WDA-payments-approves-change-order-and-shifts-cell-tower-revenue-to-water-fund","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6170408-08deada8098479cdab934aeba2036d43/orig.mp4?Expires=1775086644&Signature=e5hnTdbvuKUsc40zFI8AZVscoh1mE1K~hLhS8AD~9ki~zDxrfeTaoVqyXdxqvw17noJZfSnyIXRVyuznPHOr6K9osYexJrBnFTb3bh~plR2oVc5i~AWYmZ78XhIJvULSP-IwBPrcIT0fP2Pl86MP3zQXnLmEmPDmbu8j2yJA2ICuhcjCl0hSsIXxqfE9iTrJar44A-M25xswho5VjUnJ1JdXtZKDakS9v4pgxvIsb0BxY6RcblL9CmpjR6jRDa0CNVheTEd55bWX7vR2k6zD9fo24NWJaNzFhkVgwXYcEW~K23l19rLGLQRfz94-7m1v3Q2-EFDyAB6LPVlIRIT0ag__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Harpers Ferry Town Council on July 14 approved final invoices and a balancing change order for the town’s water-distribution project funded in part by the West Virginia Water Development Authority and directed the fiscal-year transfer of cell-tower revenue to the waterworks budget to bolster utility cash flow.

Council adopted Resolution No. 9 authorizing payment of invoices totaling $210,589.39 related to the WDA-funded distribution project: $190,850.78 from WDA funds and $19,738.61 from CNB construction trust funds. The council then approved Change Order No. 2, which reduced the construction contract by about $94,000 to reconcile unit prices after the distribution lines were completed. Both measures passed unanimously, 6-0.

Town staff told council that, after consultations with the town’s water attorneys, the lawful mechanism to support the water utility directly from general-fund resources is an annual transfer of cell-tower rental revenue (the towers are on town-owned water tanks). Budget revision materials for fiscal 2025 will move roughly $66,000 of cell-tower revenue into the waterworks fund for the year; council approved the concept during the July meeting and approved the May financial reports.

Finance staff also reviewed revised budget items and said the water billing income stands at about 93.4% of budget for the year (the report covered the period through May, about 92% of the fiscal year). Staff said some expense lines appeared over budget in May but would even out after the cell-tower transfer is recorded in a forthcoming water revision.

Public works staff reported progress on the distribution project and said a preliminary comparison of nightly tank outflow before and after the distribution work suggests a reduction in unaccounted-for water. An informal analysis compared February 2025 to June 2025 nightly outflow rates and showed an approximate 30% drop in the measured nighttime drainage (from roughly 5,250 gallons/hour to about 3,750 gallons/hour), which staff said likely reflects fewer system losses after mains replacement and other repairs. The town’s overall nonrevenue water rate—dependent on meter accuracy, leaks and other factors—was not recalculated at the July meeting because June meter reads were not yet available.

Why it matters: The WDA payments and change order close out major distribution construction; the cell-tower revenue shift is intended to ease near-term water utility cash constraints while the town completes meter upgrades and other projects. Councilors approved the payments and change order unanimously and directed staff to proceed with the budget adjustments and remaining restoration tasks.

Action summary: Resolution No. 9 (approve invoices) — passed 6-0. Change order No. 2 (balance & reduce contract by ~$94,000) — passed 6-0. Financial reports for May 2025 — approved 6-0.","Harpers Ferry council approved final payments and a balancing change order for the West Virginia Water Development Authority-funded distribution project, agreed to transfer cell-tower revenue to the water utility for fiscal 2025, and heard a staff report showing reduced nighttime tank losses after distribution work.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6170412,"Charlestown councilor, former JCDA members say county removed municipal representation without notice",167,194000,361000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5397872-8e852622c1a1bbd89b10445df77d5706&start=194&end=361","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5397872-8e852622c1a1bbd89b10445df77d5706/thumbnail_194000.jpg","/articles/6170412/Harpers-Ferry/Jefferson-County/West-Virginia/Charlestown-councilor-former-JCDA-members-say-county-removed-municipal-representation-without-notice","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6170412-da6927d66deb0dd35213b7fc02a6f206/orig.mp4?Expires=1775086644&Signature=oPF8eNpDg8Y76EfLGOp1-SJSlbcif62sJvwVB6d2NAn7maXg7KtTZJnA55W2BLHZXPbkRHlLuVKR6zZBOd7VKjfkGPRCpO9~HNaxdQoSndc7Tfnm5zpjMVRaSKI7HlhTLWAXj7DnPuy5OCXH9lb9XVonKwVX7IuCS7byPeddJ0V6uBFHTJGh2EbHmi6Yl6WzW9uBv585VbNlzI~io-MJcHYf-sw1ffcqAYj0NACO044D4CgA~s6-gHctXXMj7ssN-qHQqm-WvF8FXDpp7zZ2Ob91e7EO1W0Tlc0QO8dUbk4nbJyZ332cxzKenE-A1bAANa1CSSQgd7ZENfWFicP0Qw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Elizabeth Ricketts, a Charlestown city council member and the current Jefferson County representative to the Hagerstown Eastern Panhandle Metropolitan Planning Organization, and Roberta Mead Curry told the Harpers Ferry Town Council on July 14 they were removed from the Jefferson County Development Authority board without notice. Ricketts said the county commission immediately restructured the JCDA board into a smaller panel and began conducting interviews for the new board.

Ricketts said the removals eliminated guaranteed municipal representation on the authority and voiced legal concerns about the process. \"They then immediately started conducting interviews. They denied me an interview saying I was not on the agenda,\" she said, and added that lawyers and community members believe the county violated the Open Meetings Act when it presented that agenda item.

Roberta Mead Curry said she had served on the JCDA until the removal and said the JCDA had been important to Harpers Ferry as \"one of their major primary economic drivers in Jefferson County.\" She told the council she plans to reapply for a seat and urged municipal leaders to consider a joint resolution opposing the county action.

Mayor Vaughn and council members asked procedural questions and confirmed the JCDA still operates under its 2012 bylaws; Ricketts said those bylaws are available on the JCDA website and were referenced in the county commission agenda. Council members encouraged residents who want to speak at the county commission’s next meeting to do so; Ricketts said the county commission was scheduled to meet again on Thursday following the July 14 council meeting.

Why it matters: Councilors and residents said municipal representation on the JCDA gave towns a voice in regional economic development. Ricketts and Curry argued that removing guaranteed municipal seats could shift control of the authority and affect Jefferson County municipalities’ influence over economic decisions.

The council did not take formal action on the JCDA during the July 14 meeting. Ricketts said Charlestown is considering a resolution and encouraged other mayors to discuss a joint municipal response at an upcoming mayors’ meeting.","Speakers at the Harpers Ferry Town Council meeting said Jefferson County commissioners removed municipal representatives from the Jefferson County Development Authority board without notice, raising concerns about loss of municipal representation and possible Open Meetings Act violations.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Harpers Ferry council forms committees, assigns check signer and names representatives to planning bodies

Council adopts new town logo concept, approves extra funding to finish design and rollout

Harpers Ferry converts stormwater task force into five-member stormwater committee

Council authorizes WDA payments, approves change order and shifts cell-tower revenue to water fund

Charlestown councilor, former JCDA members say county removed municipal representation without notice